I've always loved urban gardens, those small patches of life among the gorgeous, depressing, ruined details of cities. There's something about the juxtaposition of this tiny attempt at life, a nod to natural beauty, that always makes me feel better. They remind me that there's always part of us that's growing and undamaged, no matter how bad things get, no matter how much misery we experience. Like the one lone Bible quote I have taped to my refrigerator, the one about being knocked down, but never knocked out, the one about experiencing the death of Jesus a little each day in order to experience the joy of his return.
We lost a lot of things we think we cannot do without in our life: our friends and family, our health, looks, money, dreams. We sacrifice a lot to the altars of our need. Make a lot of compromises when we said we wouldn't. So we die a little every single day, our own Good Fridays in the making. But we cannot kill the hope of redemption. Like the cans that litter the sides of the highways now that the snow has melted, we glisten in the sun even as we doubt our worth and hope for someone to pick us up and remind us that we're still worth something, no matter how many times we've been discarded.
Michelle's Spell of the Day
"We stumble and fall constantly even when we are most enlightened. But when we are in true spiritual darkness, we do not even know that we have fallen." Thomas Merton
Cocktail Hour
Drinking Lenten reading suggestion: The Seeds Of Holiness Thomas Merton
Benedictions and Maledictions
Happy Good Friday!
5 comments:
I think this is one of the most meaningful posts you've written, Michelle. God bless you on this Good Friday.--Cardinal Spellman
I love those gardens too, but even better, I like when you see plants growing on actual buildings. It gives me hope.
I once read the Oscar Wilde used to stop people as they crossed the street in London, and point at dandelions growing from a crack in the sidewalk, saying "look at that!" And he would grab their arm and make them look, all the while his voice rising. "Did you ever think that in all this squallor, all this wretchedness and filth, life can still take root and thrive in spite how hard we try to crush it?"
Fabulous sale on Bud Light now at Krogers. Case of longnecks for just $12.99. Hurry!!!--Mr. Whipple
*Lovely words, Michelle.
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